When DBAWIS launched 11 years ago, it was a column in the online cut and paste blog of David Farrell’s called ‘FYIMusic’. I started writing there when Old Chum and fearless supporter of yours truly, Greg “The Toker” Simpson, was offered a column there, turned it down, and suggested David give me a call. He did, and I said yes. He was offering the princely sum of 25 dollars a week or so, and seeing as how I never have enough money, even that small amount would be welcome. I have never been paid what I am worth …but then again, I have never made money my first priority. I’m not perfect, you know.

All I thought was, “Here’s an opportunity to learn a new skill by doing it …my favourite kind of schooling ….

Well Trumpelthinskin sure went off his script at last weekend’s well publicized 1% group grope. He went well off his message, well off on a tangent,; (well off his rocker?) His word salad of an address would probably have sounded better if his “speech writers” had taken an Oxford Dictionary, put it through a shredder, stuffed the resultant paper “scrap” into a muzzle loading cannon and promptly fired it at a wall covered with paper glue and begged him to read the result! America, I weep for you. You have “elected” a grifter, a cheat, a conman, a nepotistic thief who would gladly sell off everything that makes America great for 5 cents on the dollar, if it would fill his pockets and those of his dreadful family.

Editor’s Note – This column, originally published in 2016, is a place keeper until I finish the 2019 Grammy piece I am working on. It will run on Monday after Chef Tom and Roxanne amuse and entertain you Saturday and Sunday. Having a too-rare get together with family today. See you Monday!

Gotham City wasn’t built to let in the light. Even on the sunniest days, it remained dim and even dark on the crowded sidewalks, because Gotham has a thing for tall buildings standing side by side, on both sides of the blvds, avenues and streets. Towering over the downtown populace like Sentinels.

…and being Bob and of a certain age, I must be honest and let you know that because of the Winter wind and sac-freezing weather, I am unable to type very much due to a little known condition called “Scanlon’s Finger Frost”, brought on by the bones in my fingers becoming brittle and non-responsive due to a steady diet of popsicles, frozen margaritas, and an angry refrigerator door. The cold triggers it and I am unable to push down on the keys of my keyboard because my digits will shatter and I will no longer be able to pick my nose or wipe myself. This intro is being typed by my butler and lackey, Manuel Labourio, a gentleman who was won by my father in a poker game on Cinqo de Mayo. a Mexican celebration of the 5 uses of mayonnaise, on May 5th, 1951

Without further ado, Here’s E. Ray…and Senor Bob, either quit putting snakes in my sleeping bag, or I will inform the SPCA that the Rescue Dogs you adopt are fed to your cats who, in turn, are sold to Chinese restaurants at inflated prices.